THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Efforts must be taken to nurture the saplings planted as part of the World Environment Day, forest minister K Raju has urged. He was speaking after inaugurating the World Environment Day, celebrations, jointly organised by The New Indian Express and the Indian Oil Corporation here on Tuesday.
“The saplings planted as part of the Environment Day celebrations need to be taken care of. Such an initiative to distribute thousands of saplings to the public is highly appreciable,” the minister said after planting a seedling of Pavizhamalli in the IOC outlet PTC Fuels, Pattom. “Ensure that the plant is well taken care of,” he said, nodding at the freshly planted sapling.
As part of the initiative, 60,000 saplings were distributed to public through various IOC outlets across the state. The programme was supported by the Social Forestry wing of the Kerala Forest Department. As the day wore on, the outlet was frequented by many who took home the saplings. Saplings were also given away as part of the IOC’s ‘Vipinam’ initiative which aims at gifting a sapling on important occasions. The minister inaugurated the Vipinam stand at the outlet and distributed a couple of saplings to customers. Customers were provided with paper bags in exchange for plastic carry bags in an effort to promote the theme of ‘Beat the Plastic Pollution.’ Also ‘seed balls’ were distributed to customers.
Indian Oil Corporation DGM (Retail Sales) P K Rajendra, The New Indian Express Assistant Manager Krishna Sarma S, Chief Manager (Marketing) Binoy P Daniel, Circulation Manager Victor D’Cruz and Assistant Sales Manager Unnikrishnan Nair B were also present. For the past few years TNIE has been offering saplings free of cost to the public in its efforts to increase the green cover.